Gate structure



B.' W. HASKETT GATE STRUCTURE I Jan. 8, 1952 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Dec.15, 1949 INVENTOR EURLv W HAS/(E TT F 1/LA* l ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 8,1952 UNITED STATES rATsNT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates generally to an improved gate structure and hasparticular relation to an improved farm gate structure wherein one endof the gate is pivotally mounted to an upright support and the other endof the gate is free swinging.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved gate structurewhich has the singular and combined features of extreme light weight,rigidity and adjustability, simplicity of construction, a minimum ofcomponent parts and inexpensive construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved farm gatestructure including` a telescopic tubular cross bar sag adjuster whichwill permit any sagging in the gate to be automatically adjusted so thatthe gate may be maintained in alignment.

These and other objects of the invention will be readily understood bythe reference to the following description and accompanying drawings.

The improved gate of the present invention generally comprises a pair ofopposing parallel horizontal standards, a pair of parallel verticalstandards carrying said horizontal standards, each pair of said verticalstandards comprising two opposed members formed to nest at leastpartially around the periphery of said horizontal standards, andclamping means connecting said vertical standards through saidhorizontal stand ards at their nesting connections, to rigidly clampsaid horizontal standards between said vertical standards in allpositions of lift of the gate.

In one embodiment, the invention includes a gate wherein the horizontalstandard comprises tubes and in another embodiment of the invention, thevertical standards each comprise an L-shaped angle iron. In a preferredembodiment of the invention, the improved gate includes a teleseopingadjustable support mounted diagonally between vertical standards, Inanother preferred embodiment of the invention, the improved gateincludes a telescopic tubular crossbar sag adjuster comprising an outerhollow tube provided with longitudinally and serially ar rangedapertures, an inner tube slidably mounted within said outer tube, anaperture engaging pawl pivotally mounted on the telescoping end of saidinner tube, and a pawl engaging tongue pivotally mounted on thetelescoping end of said inner tube, said apertures being longitudinallyspaced to receive said pawl and tongue so that telescoping movement ofthe pawl into a non-apertured portion of the outer tube causesprogression of the tongue into an aperture so that said tongue preventsaperture locking engagement of said pavvl during reverse movement intoan apertured portion of said outer tube. A further embodiment of theinvention generally includes this combination wherein the tongue ispivotally mounted on the pawl. A further preferred embodiment generallyinvolves a construction Wherein the tongue is spaced at a distance fromthe free end of the pawl substantially equal to the distance between theapertures. A further preierred embodiment generally comprises thiscombination wherein the telescoping tubes are each provided with anabutting spacer on their inner and outer walls respectively, the spaceron the inner tube being mounted within the telescoping portion of thetubes on the telescoping side of the Outer tube spacer.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a front elevational view of a gate, partially broken away,embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the hinged end of the gate shown in Fig. i;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the free end of the gate shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional View, partially broken away, of a telescopictubular cross bar sag adjustcr embodying the present invention, showingthe details of the sag adjuster shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4, diagrammatically illustrating thesequence of operation, and

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Figs. 4 and 5, dia grammaticallyillustrating the sequence of operation.

Referring to the drawings, the improved gate generally comprises a pairof opposing parallel horizontal standards iii carried at their hingedend by a pair of vertical standards indicated generally at 28 andcarried at their free end by a pair of horizontal vertical standardsindicated generally at 30.

Additionally, the horizontal standards lli are supported intermediatetheir ends by a pair of intermediate vertical standards il), which inthe embodiment shown, are generally similar in structure to the endstandards 2li and t. The assembled horizontal and vertical standards l,2E and 30, comprise a rectangular frame structure in which is adjustablysupported a section of fencing M, as of galvanized interlaced Wire. Thefencing 4I is supported along its top and bottom edges as 'by adjustablelacing l2 and is adjustably mounted at its side edges to the verticalstandards 20 and 36 respectively, by means of rod stretchers :i3 securedto the fencing 4| and adjustably secured, as by eyebolts 44 to the endstandards 20 and 3&1. By virtue of this construction, the fencing may beadjusted both horizontally and vertically, by tightening or extendingthe lacing 132 and by tightening or extending the eyebolts 44. It Willalso be noted that by virtue of the present construction, the fencing 4lmay be moved both horizontally and vertically between the pair ofintermediate standards 40.

Each pair of standards 2S, du and 4U comprises a pair of L-shaped angleirons 2| and 22, and a similar pair of angle irons for the intermediatestandard 4D.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mating pairs ofstandards 20, 3D and 4B are die-formed as at 23, 33 to nest around thehorizontal tubes i@ to maintain stability and rigidity as in allpositions of lift. The clamping means connecting the pairs of verticalstandards through the horizontal standards at their nesting connectionscomprises a rod or bolt 2li which is secured as by screw threadingthrough aligned holes in the vertical standards and a hole in thehorizontal standards. As shown, the horizontal standards i5 comprisetubes, as of tubular steel, in which event the nesting portion 23 ofeach standard is arcuately formed to nest around the tubing.

The hinges for the gate comprise a hanger 25 which is fastened to thehinge standards 2Q, as by means of a bolt and nut connection to permitVertical adjustment. The hangers 25 are adapted to pivotally carrysuitable lag screws 2i adapted to be secured to a conventional gatesupp-ort (not shown). The swinging end of the gate is provided with avertically adjustable plate hasp and latch connection secured to theusual fence post (not shown), as by means of a rod lock 35. In the formshown, the vertical standards extend beyond the upper limit of the tophorizontal standard 'in order to provide a support for a barbed wirestrand l l which is secured to the end standards as by eyebolts i2 andslidably fastened to the intermediate standards, as at i3.

In a preferred form of the invention, a telescoping adjustable supportdesignated generally at 55 is mounted diagonally between a pair ofopposed vertical standards. In the preferred form shown, the telescopingadjustable support 55 is mounted diagonally between the top por- I tionof the hinged vertical standards 25J Yand the bottom portion of theintermediate vertical standards as by means of frame bolts 5I whichprovide a pivotal mounting therefor.

Referring particularly to Fig. 4, there is shown a preferred form of thetelescopic tubular cross bar sag adjustor forming a bart of the presentinvention. The adjus tor comprises an outer support tube 52 and an innersupport tube 53, said tubes being telescoped as shown. The outer supporttube 52 is provided with longitudinally and serially arranged apertures54 and the inner tube 53 is provided along its inner telescopic endportion 55 with an aperture engaging pawl 55 pivotally mounted, as at5l, on the inner end 55 of the inner tube 53. The aperture engaging pawl5E is provided with an aperture engaging abutment toothed portion 53 anda sliding or plane surface 59 adapted to prevent engagement with theapertures in telescoping movement.

A pawl engaging tongue 55 is pivotally mounted on the telescoping end 55of the inner tube 53 by means of a pivot pin 5l, which in the preferredform shown, is mounted on the pawl 55. Preferably, the outer and innertelescoping tubes 52 and 53 respectively are provided with abuttingspacers 65 on their inner and outer walls respectively, the spacer 65 onthe inner tube being mounted within the telescoping portion of the tubeon the telescoping side of the outer tube spacer 65a. For stability, anadditional spacer 65h is mounted on the inner telescoping end 55 of theinner tube 53 to provide additional rigidity during the telescopingsliding operation and during the normal position of the telescopingtubes. Preferably, the spacers 55 are provided with seepage notches '66to permit drainage of rain water. The spacer 55 is mounted in spacedrelation to the spacer 65a such that the spacers will act as a limitingabutment stop means for untelescoping movement of the tubes.

Sequence of operation of telescoping adjustable support As shown, inposition number l in Fig. 5, the gate is in normal position with thespacer abutments S5 and 65a in abutting engagement and with both thepawl 56 and the disengaging tongue 60 out of engagement with theadjacent aperture 54a. In this position, the horizontal standards I arenormally at right angles to the hanger frames or vertical standards 25,3S. As will be apparent, in the normal position the Weight of the gateis carried by both the telescoping tubes 52 and 53, said tubes being inlocking engagement by means of the spacers 65, a.

As shown, in the No. 2 position, the gate is in the iirst lift position.By manually lifting the gate at its free or latching end, the center orintermediate standard lig, to which the inner telescoping tube 53 isattached, causes telescoping of the said tube into the outer tube 52,thereby driving the pawl 56 and the tongue B past position No. l, whichis a pawl locking station and not a tube locking position, and furtherpermitting telescoping movement into position No. 2, where the pawl 5tengages the aperture 541) by means of the pawl toothed portion 53,thereby supporting the frame of the gate in its iirst lift position.

Referring now to position No. 3, as shown, the gate may be locked insubsequent higher positions by lifting the free end of the gate untilthe pawl engages the desired aperture at the desired station for height.

It will be apparent that the gate may be lowered to normal position fromany locking station by lifting the free end of the gate until the pawl56 is past position No. 3; that is, past the last highest station,whereupon the disengaging tongue 60 drops into position No. 3, as shown,that is, into the lastl highest position.

Likewise, the gate may be lowered to any lower locking position from anylocking station by lifting the free end of the gate until the tonguedrops into the highest aperture (or the position No. 3 aperture),thereby lowering the gate until the tongue drops into the next lowerposition than that desired, and raising the gate until the pawl engagesthe aperture at the desired height,

It will be apparent that the tongue may be pivotally mounted directly onthe pivot rod 5T on the inner end of the inner tube and that a suitableabutment member, which may be in the form of the pivot mounting Gl, maybe provided as engaging means for the tongue so that the tongue may movethe pawl out of the aperture engaging position upon movement of thetongue caused by sliding engagement with an aperture.

While the invention has been disclosed and described in its preferredembodiment, it will be understood that various modications may be madetherein by those skilled in the art, and it is intended that all suchvariations as come within the spirit and scope of the appended claimsshall be thereby covered.

I claim:

1. A gate comprising a frame including at least two spaced Verticalmembers, a rst of said vertica/l members being provided with means forholding it in a vertical position, a telescoping sag adjustor extendingdiagonally from said irst veru tical member to the other unsecuredvertical member, said sag adjustor comprising a tubular outlet memberprovided with longitudinally and serially spaced apertures, an innerassembly including a cylindrical member having one end telcscopingwithin said tubular member, and a pawl pivotally mounted in extension ofthe telescoping end of said inner cylindrical member, a tongue pivotallymounted on said assembly, said tongue being so positioned and of suchlength that in one position it covers the pawl, whereby on movement ofsaid inner assembly in one direction, said tongue engages one of saidapertures to position itself over the pawl to prevent the pawl fromengaging the apertures, and on movement of the inner assembly in theother direction, the tongue engages one of said apertures to pivotallyreverse its position and thereby permit said pawl to engage a desiredaperture, the movement of said telescoping sag adjustor members beingeffected by vertical movement of the end of the gate frame adjacent theunsecured Vertical member.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said pawl includes anaperture engaging tooth and a plane portion and said pivoted tongue ismounted on the plane portion of the pawl.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said pawl includes anaperture engaging tooth and a plane portion and said pivoted tongue ismounted on said pawl, said tongue being spaced at least a distance fromthe free end of the pawl substantially equal to the distance between theapertures.

4. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein the inner and outertelescoping members are each provided with an abutting spacer on theirouter and inner walls, the spacer on the inner wall so being mounted onthe telescoping portion of the members on the telescoping side of theouter member spacer.

5. A parallelogram type gate comprising a pair of opposing parallelhorizontal standards, a pair of parallel vertical standards carryingsaid horizontal standards, each pair of said vertical standardscomprising two members formed to nest at least partially around theperiphery of said horizontal standards, clamping means connecting saidvertical standards through said horizontal standards at their nestingconnection, to rigidly clamp said horizontal standards between saidvertical standards in all positions of lift of the gate, a iirst of saidvertical standards being provided with means for holding it in avertical position, a telescoping sag adjustor extending diagonally fromsaid first vertical standard tothe other unsecured vertical standard,said sag adjustor comprising a tubular outer member provided withlongitudinally and serially spaced apertures, an inner assemblyincluding a cylindrical member having one end telescoping within saidtubular member, and a pawl pivotally mounted in extension of 'thetelescoping end of said inner cylindrical member, a tongue pivotallymounted on said assembly, said tongue being so positioned and of suchlength that in one position it covers the pawl, whereby on movement ofsaid inner assmbly in one direction, said tongue engages one of saidapertures to position itself over the pawl to prevent the pawl fromengaging the apertures, and on movement of the inner assembly in theother direction, the tongue engages one of said apertures to pivotallyreverse its position and thereby permit said pawl to engage a desiredaperture, the movement of said telescoping sag adjustor members beingeffected by vertical movement of the end of the gate frame adjacent theunsecured vertical standard.

BURL W. HASKETT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 855,948 I-Iigbe June 4, 1907960,351 Law June 7, 1910 1,063,223 Sommer June 3, 1913 1,104,583 VaughanJuly 21, 1914 1,128,839 Bentz et al Feb. 16, 1915 1,144,564 Powell June29, 1915 2,249,046 Royer July 15, 1941

